Apparatus for printing either continuous or predetermined lengths of film

ABSTRACT

APPARATUS FOR PRINTING EITHER CONTINUOUS OR PREDETERMINED LENGTHS OF FILM WHEREIN A POSITIVE FILM AND A NEGATIVE FILM FORMING A LAMINATE STRUCTURE IS FORCED AGAINST A HEATED PLATEN WHEREBY THE IMAGE IS TRANSFERRED FROM THE NEGATIVE FILM TO THE POSITIVE FILM. THE LENGTH OF THE LAMINATION IS DETERMINED BY THE POSITION OF A TRAVELING PRESSURE ROLL AND ASSOCIATED KEEPER ROLL MOUNTED ON A CARRIAGE ADAPTED TO BE MOVED LENGTHWISE OF THE FILMS, THE POINT OF SEPARATION OR DELAMINATION OF THE FILMS BEING DETERMINED BY THE LONGITUDINAL DISPOSITION OF THE CARRIAGE RELATIVE TO THE HEATED PLATEN.

United States Patent lnventors Clark Vinton Hile Pleasant Gap; Richard L. Marks; Edward E. Headington, State College, Pa. App]. No. 775,718 Filed Nov. 14, 1968 Patented June 28, 1971 Assignee HRB-Singer. lnc. State College, Pa.

APPARATUS FOR PRINTING EITHER CONTINUOUS OR PREDETERMINED LENGTHS 0F FILM 9 Claims, 4 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 250/65T, 95/89 Int. Cl. ..(;01n 21/34, G0ln 23/04 Field Search 355/73,6;

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,443,154 6/1948 Wolff 95/13 3,414,724 12/1968 Kvarnegard 250/65.l

Primary Examiner-William F. Lindquist Attorney-Brady, O'Boyle and Gates ABSTRACT: Apparatus for printing either continuous or predetermined lengths of film wherein a positive film and a negative film forming a laminate structure is forced against a heated platen whereby the image is transferred from the negative film to the positive film. The length of the lamination is determined by the position of a traveling pressure roll and associated keeper roll mounted on a carriage adapted to be moved lengthwise of the films, the point of separation or delamination of the films being determined by the longitudinal disposition of the carriage relative to the heated platen.

PATENTEDJUNZBISYI 3588.030

sum 1 OF 2 \28 2e INVENTORS 38+ ""5! 39 CLARK VINTON HlLE 3 RICHARD LEE MARKS Q 0 j 29 30 EDWARD EUGENE HEADINGTON ATTORNEYS PATENTED JUN28 19m 8588.080

sum 2 OF 2 APPARATUS FOR PRINTING EITHER CONTINUOUS 01R PREDETERMINED LENGTHS F FILM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION It is well known in the photographic arts that the process for transferring an image, information, data and the like, from a negative film to a positive film is known as Printing. In this process, the two lengths of film involved are brought together in face-to-face relationship over a relatively small portion of their lengths and while so disposed they are subjected to either heat, light, electricity or developing solution, depending upon the particular transfer process involved, whereby the information content of the negative film is transferred to the positive film.

Many of todays printers are of the continuous type wherein the positive and negative films are fed from supply reels to the superimposed position for the image transfer step, the film then being separated and wound on separate takeup reels. The versatility of these printers has been somewhat limited in that the lengths of the laminate film and the duration of the faceto-face contact of the films are fixed; thus, the printers are restricted to use a particular type of positive film depending upon the developing process involved and there has been no provision for the selective printing of portions of the negative film. In other words, once the printing operation has commenced it continues until the supply of positive and negative films are substantially unwound from their respective supply reels.

In order to increase the versatility of todays printing machines the apparatus of the present invention has been devised to provide the twofold purpose of:

l. Varying the duration of the face-to-face contact of the films whereby different types of film may be employed depending upon the developing process involved and;

2. Printing selected portions from the entire length of negative film.

The apparatus for accomplishing this twofold purpose comprises, essentially, a carriage slidably mounted on a splined shaft disposed parallel to a printing source, such as a heated platen. A laminating roll is operatively connected to one end of the splined shaft, and a pressure roll and associated keeper roll are mounted on the carriage. Drive means are operatively connected to the carriage for sliding the carriage longitudinally of the splined shaft to a predetermined position relative to the heated platen, and second drive means are operatively connected to the laminating and pressure rolls for moving the rolls in a transverse direction relative to the heated platen, whereby a length of positive film is forced against a length of negative film and held in intimate contact therewith as both films are moved across the heated platen to thereby transfer the image from the negative film to the positive film.

By this construction and arrangement the duration of the face-to-face'contact of the films, and the portion of the film to be printed, are determined by the selective positioning of the carriage and associated pressure roll relative to the heated platen and the transverse actuation of the laminating and pressure rolls relative to the platen.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a side elevational view, in section of the device of the present invention, showing the carriage at its uppermost position, and the laminating and pressure rolls moved to extended position to hold the positive and negative films in intimate contact as both films are moved across the heated platen, the retracted position of the rolls and positive film being shown in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, rear elevation view of the device;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the device, similar to FIG. 1; however showing the carriage at its lowermost position;and

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the device similar to FIG. 3; however, showing the laminating and pressure rolls, and positive film, in retracted position.

' Referring to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the apparatus of the present invention comprises, a splined shaft 1 having its upper and lower ends journaled within supporting frames 2 and 3, respectively. A carriage 4 is I slidably mounted on the splined shaft, as at 5, and includes an arm portion 6 which is threadably mounted on a pair of elevating screws 7. Rotation of the elevating screws is obtained from a reversible, DC motor 8 having a pinion gear 9 secured to its drive shaft,.which gear meshes with another pinion gear 10 secured to the end of a shaft 11. Each end portion of shaft 11 is provided with a worm gear 12 which meshes with respective helical gear 13 secured to the lower end of each elevating screw. it will thus be seen that, depending upon the direction of rotation of motor 8, the elevating screws 7 will be correspondingly rotated to cause the carriage 4 to slide on the splined shaft from its uppermost position as shown in FIG. 3, and vice versa. lt should be understood that suitable controls are connected to the motor 8 so that the carriage may be disposed on the splined shaft at any selected position intermediate the uppermost and lowermost positions.

The carriage 4 includes a miter gear 14 having a splined hub 15 mounted on the splined shaft 1. Miter gear 14 meshes with another miter gear l6 journaled on the carriage and being connected to a lead screw 17. The end of the lead screw 17 is threaded into a slide member 18 having a pair of depending flanges 19 to which a pair of arms 20 are pivotally secured through pin 21 extending between the flanges. A pressure roll 22 is carried by the arms 20 intermediate the ends thereof and a keeper roll 23 is carried on the outer end portions of the arms. A compression spring 24 is mounted between the carriage and the arms for biasing the arms and associated pressure and keeper rolls in a direction away from the carriage, and a stop pin 25, secured to the slide flanges 19, extends into an aperture formed in the arms to limit the angular travel of the arms.

The lower frame member 3 carries a miter gear 26 which is secured to the lower end of splined shaft 1. Gear 26 meshes with another miter gear 27 mounted on the frame and connected to one end of a lead screw 28, the opposite end of the lead screw being threadably received within a member 29 having a portion slidably received within the frame as at 30. Member 29 includes a pair of upstanding flange portions 31 each of which have a depending arm 32 pivotally mounted thereon through a pin 33 extending between the flanges. A laminating roll 34 is carried on the lower end of arms 32 and a compression spring 35 is positioned between the flange portion 31 and the depending arm 32 for biasing the arm away from the flange portion. A stop pin 36 is connected to each flange portion 31 and extends through an enlarged aperture 37 formed in each depending arm 32 for limiting the angular movement of the flanges, each arm 32 also being provided with an opening 38 for receiving the end of the lead screw 28 when the slide has been removed to the retracted position, to be described more fully hereinafter.

The miter gear 26 is driven by miter gear 39 which is secured to one end of a drive shaft 40, the opposite end of the shaft having a pinion gear 41 secured thereto which meshes with a pinion gear 42 secured to the output shaft of a reversible, DC motor 43.

it will thus be apparent that upon the energization of motor 43, the miter gear 39 not only imparts rotation to miter gear 27 and its associated lead screw 28, but it also imparts rotation to the splined shaft 1 and miter gear 14, which, in turn, rotates miter gear 16 and its associated lead screw 17. The rotation of the lead screws 17 and 28 causes the upper slide member 18 and lower slide member 29 to move simultaneously from their extended position as shown in FIG. 1, to their retracted position as shown in H6. 4, or vice versa, depending upon the direction of rotation of the motor 43.

As will be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the positive or receptor film 44 is fed from a supply reel (not shown) to the laminating roll 34 and pressure roll 22. From the pressure roll the film is directed under the keeper roll 23 and upwardly to an idler roll 45 and then to a storage reel (not shown). The negative film 46 is also fed from a storage reel (not shown), over an idler roller to a printing station 47, which. in the instant case, comprises a heated platen 48. From the printing station, the negative film is fed over an idler roll 49 to a storage reel (not shown).

In the operation of the apparatus of the present invention, assuming that the laminating roll 34 and pressure roll 22 are in their retracted position, as shown in H6. 4, and it is desired to make a print from a length "L (FIG. 3) of the negative film, motor 8 is first energized to rotate the elevating screws 7 thereby causing the carriage 4 to slide on the splined shaft 1 to its desired position. After motor 8 has been stopped, motor 43 is energized to simultaneously extend upper slide member 18 and its associated pressure roll 22, and the lower slide member 29 and its associated laminating roll 34 to the extended position as shown in FIG. 3, whereby the length of positive film or receptor material is forced against a length of negative film and held in intimate contact therewith by the laminating roll 34 and pressure roll 22 as the two films move upward on the heated platen 48 to thereby transfer the image from the negative film to the positive film. The positive film or receptor material 44 is separated or delaminated from the negative film 46 at the pressure roller 22, and the keeper roller 23 assures continued separation of the two films as they are fed to their respective storage reels. Upon completion of the printing operation, motor 43 is reversed to cause retraction of the slides 18 and 19 to thereby delaminate the positive film from the negative film as shown in FIG. 4.

If it is desired to obtain a longer length of printed film, the carriage 4 can be moved upwardly, for instance, to a position as shown in FIG. 1, whereupon the slide members 18 and 19 and positive film 44 are moved from the dotted line position to g the solid line position for the printing operation.

While the apparatus of the present invention has been described for use with a heated platen type printing source, it is contemplated to use the apparatus with other types of printing sources, such as those requiring light, electricity or developing solution, depending upon the particular transfer process involved. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the type of positive and negative films which are employed depends upon the particular developing process, each process requiring, among other things, a predetermined time in which the positive and negative films are to be in intimate contact. By the construction and arrangement of the apparatus of the present invention, namely, the adjustability of the carriage, and the reciprocatory movement of the slide members and associated laminating and pressure rolls, the duration of the face-to-face contact of the films may be varied. Furthermore, the apparatus of the present invention facilitates the printing of selected portions from a running length of negative film.

it will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the apparatus can be enclosed within a suitable housing,

designated generally by reference numeral 50, in FIG. 2, and

that suitable electrical controls are provided for the motors 8 and 43, and limit switches are provided for the carriage 4 and slide members 18 and 29, to prevent overtravel thereof, and to stop the slide members at a predetermined position during the extension thereof in order that the proper amount of compression may be imparted by the springs 24 and 35 to the pressure roll 22 and laminating roll 34, respectively.

The terms and expressions which have been employed herein are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and there is no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but his recognized that various modifications are possible within the scope of the invention claimed.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for printing predetermined lengths of film compressing, a printing station, means for feeding positive and negative films through said printing station. support means disposed parallel to said films and printing station, a pair of spaced slide means operatively connected to said support means and extending substantially normal thereto, pressure roller means mounted on one of said slide means and laminating roller means mounted on the other slide means, one of the films extending between the laminating and pressure roller means and supported thereon, drive means operatively connected to said pair of slide means for simultaneously moving the pressure and laminating roller means to a position wherein said one film is placed into face-to-face contact with the other film in the printing station, whereby the image is transferred from the negative film to the positive film, said drive means being operative to simultaneously move the pressure and laminating roller means to a retracted position wherein the films are separated from face-to-face contact, and second drive means operatively connected to the slide means carrying the pressure roller means for moving said slide means on the support means, whereby the space between the slide means may be varied for printing selected portions of the negative.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the support means comprises a shaft and a carriage slidably mounted on said shaft, the slide means carrying the pressure roller means being mounted on said carriage, said second drive means being operatively connected to said carriage for sliding said carriage on said shaft,

3. The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the second drive means for sliding the carriage comprises, a reversible motor, gear means connected to said motor, elevating screw means connected to said gear means and said carriage, whereby when the screw means are rotated in one direction the carriage is moved in one direction on said shaft and when the screw means are rotated in the opposite direction the carriage is moved accordingly on said shaft.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the printing station is a heated platen and the shaft is splined, said carriage including a miter gear having a splined hub portion slidably mounted on said splined shaft, said miter gear meshing with a second miter gear mounted on said carriage, a lead screw connected to said second miter gear, said lead screw being threadably received within said slide means carrying the pressure roller means, a third miter gear secured to the end of said splined shaft, said third miter gear meshing with a fourth miter gear having a lead screw connected thereto, said second mentioned lead screw being threadably received within the slide means carrying the laminating roller means, a fifth miter gear meshing with said third miter gear, and reversible drive means connected to said fifth miter gear, whereby upon actuation of said drive means the lead screws are rotated to cause simultaneous actuation of said slide means.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the slide means carrying the laminating roller means is disposed at one end of said shaft, the drive means for simultaneously actuating the pressure roller means and laminating roller means including a pair of lead screws having their free ends threadably received within a respective slide means, a reversible motor, gear means and said shaft being operatively connected to said lead screws and said reversible motor, whereby when the lead screws are rotated in one direction the slide means and associated roller means are moved in one direction, and when the rotation of the lead screws is reversed the slide means are moved in the opposite direction.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the pressure roller means and laminating roller means each comprise a pair of flanges secured to the respective slide means, a pair of arms pivotally mounted on said flanges and a roller extending between and secured to said arm.

7. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein a keeper roller is mounted on the outer end portions of the arms carrying the pressure roller for guiding said one film over the pressure roller and away from the other film.

8. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein spring means are mounted between the slide means and the arms for biasing the arms and associated rollers away from the slide means.

9. Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein stop pins are secured to the flanges, and enlarged apertures are formed in the arms for receiving the ends of the stop pins to thereby limit the pivotal movement of the arms. 

